End of line for Ravens' Ray Lewis?

Ray Lewis

After last year’s loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship, Ravens linebacker and leader Ray Lewis gathered his devastated teammates in the visiting locker room at Gillette Stadium and told them, “Make sure we finish it next time.”

Who knew then what form the 2012 Ravens would take — Lewis was aging, All-Pro safety Ed Reed was considering retirement — and where they would be on this second-to-last weekend in January, but spurred on by Lewis’ recent retirement announcement and their deep-ball slinging quarterback, here the Ravens are again, ready to face the Patriots at 6:30 tonight for the AFC title and a chance to play in Super Bowl XLVII.

“Going back to last year,” Lewis said, “we made up our mind at the end of the year that that wasn’t for us. That’s kind of how things go. For us to be back here again, same position, same situation, who would have ever thought of it but us?”

The 37-year-old Lewis, who’ll play in his 20th postseason game, has terrorized opposing offenses for 17 seasons, made 13 Pro Bowls and is the NFL’s active leader in career tackles, but he has been to and won only one Super Bowl — XXXV — back in 2000. Finishing his career like that is clearly Lewis’ objective. And this is his last chance.

“How can you top the moment of hearing those famous words?” Lewis said. “And that is, ‘Ravens have won the Super Bowl.’ When you play the game, that is what you play the game for. You play and hope that one day you hear those words. That is what I am trying to get this team to go back and hear one more time, so they can really feel what it feels like. Because once you hear it, like I tell all of them, your life will never be the same again.”

Billboards on the sides of Massachusetts highways, meanwhile, have been counting down to Lewis’ “Retirement Party.” Patriots fans are eager to see Lewis’ career end — preferably around 9:30 tonight at Gillette Stadium.

Despite off-field controversy, Lewis became the face, the embodiment, really, of the Ravens and their tenacious defense. The unit is not as feared as it once was, but dating back to that 2000 championship season, Baltimore still ranks in the top three of the eight most significant defensive categories, and from 1996-2011, the Ravens held opponents to under 4 yards per rush, the 16-year streak an NFL record.

In the middle of it all was Lewis with his 2,643 tackles, 50 takeaways and menacing presence.

Lewis played in the regular-season game against the Patriots in September — and made 10 tackles in Baltimore’s 31-30 win — but went on to miss the last 10 games of the regular season with a torn triceps muscle.

On Jan. 2, four days before the Ravens’ AFC wild-card game against the Colts, Lewis announced he’d be retiring at season’s end. Baltimore went on to trounce the Colts, 24-9, and Lewis, in his first game since Oct. 14, led the team with 13 tackles and a pass defensed.

The farewell tour was off and running, and Lewis’ teammates were on board.

“It’s just great to see him play at a level that I don’t think a lot of linebackers can be doing now,” Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said. “I’m just humbled and definitely lucky, I guess, to play with someone like that.”

Lewis totaled 17 tackles in last week’s double-overtime divisional win over the Broncos.

“Ray has played well — that’s the most important thing,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s a top linebacker in the game right now, at this very moment, so he’s made a difference for us.”

The Ravens ranked an uncharacteristic 17th in total defense this season. The unit was actually a little better in some categories when Lewis was out. According to ESPN, with Lewis the Ravens allowed 5.5 yards per play and sacked the opposing quarterback fewer than once every 20 dropbacks. Without Lewis, Baltimore allowed 5 yards per play and sacked the QB once every 14 dropbacks.

“I’m sure that they’re glad that he’s back in there for a variety of reasons,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, “his plays, his leadership, being able to quarterback the defense and certainly the front. He’s done a good job for them since he’s been back in there.”

The win over the Colts was the last home game for Lewis. He added some extra flare to his signature pregame dance, emerging from the fog at the end of the M&T Bank Stadium tunnel, howling, opening his arms and chest, sliding, stomping and thrusting his knee in the air.

“When he did that, it sent chills up your body because he’s been doing this for so long,” said Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, a University of Miami product like Lewis. “It’s hard to see a guy that’s been doing it for so long and at the level that he’s been doing it — it’s unheard of.

“When you talk about greatness, you’re talking about greatness right there. He’s one of the best that has ever done it. His name can be with some of the greatest all-time at the position, and he shows it. For 17 years, he’s shown it.”